After Arsenal’s latest defeat, Arsene Wenger spoke to the press about how unlucky Arsenal were, made excuses and asked that this one game be taken as a stand-alone defeat against exceptional opposition.

For some time now I’ve been talking to the Daily Cannon team and people on Twitter about how Arsene Wenger seems to see defeats in isolation, ignoring the pattern they form.

So I decided to look back over Arsenal’s defeats to see what exactly was said after every match. I was going to go back through this season and last but I didn’t because it was really frustrating and, to be honest, wasn’t needed with this season delivering more than enough by ways of examples of what can only be a willful ignorance of facts.

Don’t believe me, read on for yourself and see how many times Wenger says it’s very unusual for Arsenal to make mistakes, how often he blames luck for our defeats, and how he refuses to accept there is a fundamental problem with his squad, tactics and approach to games.

I haven’t included all the post-match quotes, some I have just referenced in the key points, but they are all available on Arsenal.com in the match section for each game.

1. Stoke A Aug 19 1-0

“We are very frustrated because we lost a game that we should have won and that’s terrible to swallow.” Wenger

“We knew at half-time it was very important to keep our defensive focus in this kind of game, (then) we came out and didn’t defend properly. That’s where we are not forgivable today. At the end of the day I believe when you are not concentrating on the way you want to play, you pay for it at that level.

“It is vital to not only see the negative side of it and to respond very quickly in the next game. But in the Premier League you do not get away with defending like we did on the goal. We have to realise as well, that if we want to transform the energy we put into the game as well like that, you have to defend properly, every single minute.” Wenger

2. Liverpool A Aug 27 4-0

Key points: Unable to understand why we were poor.

“I’m deeply disappointed because we were not at the level – not physically, nor mentally, nor in the fight. It’s very difficult to find reasons today for such a poor performance. It’s a long time that we haven’t had that and it’s very difficult to explain.

“I think we have to not go into the conclusions from today’s performance that the players are poor. The players are quality but today we had a poor performance. I think these players will come back in a different shape after the international break and hopefully we have not many injuries and then there is still the transfer market that we have to deal with until Thursday.

“But we have to not panic as well, just today was a dramatic performance. I have not seen us for a long time like that.” Wenger

3. Watford A Oct 14 2-1

Key points: Unlucky, nervous, made mistakes.

“It’s unbelievably hard to take because we had the opportunity to win the game.” Wenger

“I think we became nervous and we lost our composure when it was 1-1.” Wenger

4. Manchester City A Nov 5 3-1

Key points: Unlucky, difficult to swallow, disappointed.

“We were always in the game and I believe honestly we were really unlucky. City are strong enough not to need that [help] and it’s very difficult to swallow today. I’m very, very disappointed.” Wenger

5. FC Koln A Nov 23 1-0

Key points: Unlucky

“I cannot fault the preparation or the concentration of the players.” Wenger

6. Manchester United H Dec 2 3-1

Key points: Difficult to swallow, unlucky, made mistakes.

“When you see the potential we have and in the end the way we started at the back is very difficult to swallow. Again, we made a huge mistake and gave them the third goal.” Wenger

“It is an unlucky game, but we need to make sure that when we create chances in a big game we score and don’t make mistakes.” Cech

7. Nottingham Forest A Jan 7 4-2

Key points: Made mistakes.

“That’s why it’s disappointing. During the game, we repeated the same mistakes. That’s where we are guilty today. Once, twice, three times – at that level, you cannot afford that.” Wenger

8. Bournemouth A Jan 14 2-1

Key points: Made mistakes, surprising mistakes, unlucky.

“We made mistakes that were not even forced by their qualities, just because we made bad decisions. Overall, it’s very frustrating that we come out down from the stand and wonder how did we lose this game. I don’t really know how.” Wenger

“I would say we gave the game away today with mistakes. It was not attitude, because our attitude was spot on.” Wenger

“I am surprised by the kind of mistakes we made today. It’s very unusual and very difficult to explain.” Wenger

“We made two very surprising mistakes that were not even forced errors, it was just a lack of decision-making and overall you come out of the game thinking: how did we lose the game?” Wenger

“It’s very frustrating and very disappointing result for us, especially when you are 1-0 up and we made mistakes in areas where you wonder where they come from.” Wenger

“In that one, we were a bit unlucky. They rode their luck, they worked very hard all day and in the end, they got a big reward. Hopefully we will manage to get the ready for the next one, win it and kick from there.” Cech

9. Swansea A Jan 30 3-1

Key points: Not at that level, usual mistakes, lack of concentration, lack of confidence.

“I would say, overall, Swansea were hungrier, sharper in the duels and we are absolutely guilty tonight of not being at the level on that front.

“Secondly I believe we were not disciplined enough and when we scored the goal against a team who defend so deep and then one minute later it’s 1-1… overall I believe I don’t even want to talk about the second and third goals. It is a very disappointing night for us.

“I believe that we go home very, very disappointed. We are in front and a team of our solidity should be much better against a team like that, I believe we must make sure not to make a defensive mistake because of a lack of discipline.

“On top of that we made unusual, massive mistakes, that was the killer.” Wenger

“I don’t put it down to anything, you make mistakes, you make mistakes, it is not always a rational explanation behind it apart from the fact that maybe it highlights the whole lack of quality of concentration that we lacked tonight.” Wenger

“Maybe after a while it becomes a confidence problem as well, but overall it’s easy to put it down to confidence and tonight it’s very difficult to find a rational explanation behind our performance.” Wenger

“Well, they defended well and we simply made mistakes. When you keep making mistakes then obviously at this level the team can take advantage of that.” Cech

10. Tottenham A Feb 10 1-0

“I don’t think they lacked the hunger to defend. They were up against a super striker who is one of the best in the world. He scores against everybody, so all of the defenders who play against him must lack hunger then!” Wenger

“That’s the most important thing [bouncing back]. They started sharper than us I suppose. It’s something we spoke about as well, so I don’t really know why that happened. But we have to deal with it now. We’ve lost the game and we have to move on and focus on the next game and try to win the next game.” Wilshere

“We came here with the hope that we could win the game. We did everything to make sure that we were ready to win the game and we failed to do so.” Cech

“We can’t just be stuck looking back at this game. We need to analyse, need to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes and we’ve still got quite a few games to play.” Bellerin

11. Ostersund H Feb 22 2-1

Key points: Complacent, not focused, made mistakes, react in next game.

“In the first half we were in trouble and in danger because we were complacent, not focused and were open every time we lost the ball. We had no ideas with the ball and that’s why we were in trouble.

“Against all teams, you can be in trouble every time you’re not 100 per cent focused.

“It’s better not to talk too much tonight, and focus on our next game.” Wenger.

12. Manchester City N Feb 25 3-0

Key points: Exceptional opponent, unlucky, react in next game.

“When you lose a game like that everything is questioned.

“TV personalities when you don’t win a game – it’s questioned. We played against a good side, you cannot say it’s an average side. They dominate the Premier League.

“Some of them (pundits) have been players and I know them. They have not always played at 200% (themselves).” Wenger.

“When you lose a game like that everything is questioned – the players, the team, the personalties,” he said. “It is now [like that] of course every time that you don’t win a game. “But we played against a good side, you cannot say that we played against an average side. They dominate the Premier League and they have good players. It is difficult to come back [when you are behind against them].” Wenger.

Writer specialising in good football and bad relationships. Usually sarcastic, always here, often elsewhere.
Pre-order my book, out on Monday, about being Transgender here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BPZGRW5